Canoerebel -> RE: Notes from a Small Island (11/4/2017 4:56:33 PM)
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5/9/44 SqzMyLemon: While preparing for the future, I'm reminded time and time again to thank Joseph for the tremendous work he did. The greatest bequests I inherited from him: robust Allied army OOB (lots of big, strong divisions in good places); massive merchant shipping (the lift capacity is beyond anything I've ever dealt with); very strong combat ship OOB; pools flush with fighters and bombers and patrol aircraft; engineers scattered all about have built bases very big, providing wonderful infrastructure and maximum victory points); and taking some high value enemy bases including Port Moresby, Rabaul, Lunga and Luganville. My chief job has been to correctly assess these attributes in measuring possibilities for advancing. It's been complicated, challenging and a lot of fun. Thank you, Joseph. Burma: The Chinese are filtering through the jungle to the Japanese frontier just inside the Chinese border. Erik is monitoring this carefully. Other than that it's a false war in Burma. Neither side is outwardly belligerent. Behind the curtain, I'm shuffling supply. I'm also shuffling the big infantry units into bases to upgrade. A lot of the units were still equipped with 1941 or 1942 squads and equipment. This is going pretty well. The Pacific: Prep continues going well. I probably need about 25-30 days to get the core of the big infantry units assigned to Target Priority One to 100%. Most of the carriers in the shipyards have completed repairs. The last needs eight more days. A big fleet CV arrives at Balboa tomorrow and some other fleet carriers are in transit to distant reporting stations. My invasion of lightly held Malolap didn't go well. The shoreguns sank several ships - an xAK, and xAP, and an LCI, I think. The troops landed but the supply didn't come ashore well. The enemy counterattack was feeble, but the Allied shock attack was feeble-r. My guys are ashore and recuperating and should take the base eventually. Meanwhile, APDs carrying assault troops are inbound to vacant (I believe) Roi-Namur. Erik isn't actively defending out here. Catcher's indifference. SigInt: I have a strong picture of the distribution of Eriks' infantry and tank divsions and HQ units. As you'd expect, there are no holes. But as I've said before, I think there's potential to overwhelm at a single point or tightly grouped points. If the Allies handle any enemy opposition (carriers, combat ships, and LBA), I'm pretty confident the initial invasions will succeed. I know Erik is clever and creative beyond my own experience. I'm trying to think through things. Mainly, though, I have to think through my own prep: commander quality, TF makeup, and overwhelming force.
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